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Train Planning Software and Implementation Services

Northern Trains Limited

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 15:49

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

08 Apr 2026 at 09:37

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Oct 2025 at 16:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

08 Jul 2025 at 12:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Trains Limited procured train-planning software and implementation services for its Service Planning function. The system is intended to support timetable development for submission to Network Rail, crew diagrams that match planned services to available staff, and diagrams allocating rolling-stock types to services; allocation of individual train units is outside the stated scope. The requirement covers a single software platform, including configuration, data migration, integration, testing, training and ongoing support. The supplier must deliver a production-ready system, support parallel running and manage the operational cutover without materially disrupting routine service-planning work. Delivery is for Northern Trains’ operations across the North of England, covering the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. The purchase combines specialist rail-planning software with the technology implementation and support needed to put it into operational use.

The procurement has been awarded: Worldline IT Services UK Limited was selected for the single-platform lot. The award was made on 1 April 2026, and the contract was signed on 30 June 2026. Its value is £4,729,595 excluding VAT (£5,675,514 including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2032, with options to extend by up to five years in two stages, giving a maximum term of eleven years. The route was a competitive flexible procedure with staged supplier selection and a final offer stage. The tender evaluation weighted quality at 60%, commercial considerations at 30% and social value at 10%. The contract includes additional licensing and implementation, development or configuration services as options. The other two lots were not awarded under this contract.

For suppliers preparing to compete for a comparable Northern Trains requirement in future, this award demonstrates demand for a proven, integrated rail-planning platform rather than standalone scheduling tools. Credible providers need to show that their software can develop rail timetables for Network Rail planning cycles, coordinate with other operators, and create crew and rolling-stock-type diagrams using available resources. Delivery capability matters alongside the product: the requirement included configuration, data migration, integration, testing, user training, support, parallel running and a controlled operational cutover that avoids material disruption to service planning. Suppliers should be able to evidence dependable implementation management, high software availability and timely response and resolution of critical incidents against agreed service levels. The buyer’s evaluation also gave substantial weight to quality and included a distinct social-value assessment, alongside price. This is a substantial, long-term enterprise deployment suited to suppliers with rail-sector expertise and the capacity to support a complex operational system.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Train Planning Software and Implementation Services

Notice Description

Northern Trains Limited is procuring the supply, implementation and support of a Train Planning (Timetabling and Diagramming) software solution. The solution will be used by NTL's Service Planning function to support the development and delivery of operational plans, including: Planning and development of timetables for submission to Network Rail, in line with industry planning cycles and coordination with other operators. Creation of crew diagrams to maximise coverage of timetabled services using available resources. Creation of crew diagrams to maximise coverage of timetabled services using available resources. Creation of unit diagrams to allocate rolling stock types to services within the NTL fleet(excluding allocation of specific units). The scope includes the implementation of the solution, associated configuration, data migration, integration, testing, training and support services. The successful supplier will be required to: Deliver a fully operational production system by March 2027. Support a period of parallel running prior to go-live. Deliver system and operational cutover with no material impact on business-as-usual activities within the NTL Service Planning function. Lot 1. Train Planning Software - Single Platform Description NTL is seeking to procure a single solution that will be used by the Service Planning department to deliver the following capabilities:*Planning and development of timetables for submission to Network Rail. Timetables are submitted to Network Rail on a six-month rotation and must consider the requirements of customers along with the timetables being developed in parallel by other operators.* Creation of Crew Diagrams to provide maximum coverage of timetabled services using available resource. *Creation of Unit Diagrams describing the allocation of unit types to services from within the NTL unit asset catalogue. This does not include the allocation of specific units. The successful supplier will be required to implement the solution in line with the following: *Full production implementation of a system by March 2027, with a period of parallel running completed prior.*A system and operational cutover before or during March 2027, with no material impact on the BAU activities and capabilities of the NTL Service Planning department. Contract 1. Train Planning Software and Implementation Services Lot 1. Train Planning Software - Single Platform Contract value PS4,729,595 excluding VAT PS5,675,514 including VAT Above the relevant threshold

Lot Information

Train Planning Software - Single Platform

Options: Additional licensing, implementation/development/configuration services

Renewal: The minimum term is six (6) years, with the option to extend for a further five (5) years, split into a three (3) year option followed by a two (2) year option, up to a total maximum duration of eleven (11) years.

Train Planning Software - (Timetabling)

Options: Additional licensing, implementation/development/configuration services

Renewal: The minimum term is six (6) years, with the option to extend for a further five (5) years, split into a three (3) year option followed by a two (2) year option, up to a total maximum duration of eleven (11) years.

Train Planning Software - (Crew Unit & Diagramming)

Options: Additional licensing, implementation/development/configuration services

Renewal: The minimum term is six (6) years, with the option to extend for a further five (5) years, split into a three (3) year option followed by a two (2) year option, up to a total maximum duration of eleven (11) years.

Planning Information

Northern invites any Suppliers who substantially meet the system functionality detailed to register their interest in attending a briefing call hosted by the Project Team & Procurement Manager to discuss the requirements and understand the suppliers solution capability. Briefing calls for the weeks commencing 14/07/2025 & 28/07/2025 have been pre-scheduled and will be offered to Suppliers on a first come first serve basis. Following these sessions, if the Suppliers are interested in tendering for this opportunity they will be invited to send an expression of interest to Northern Trains Limited (details to follow). In the first instance, should Suppliers wish to partake in the briefing calls please send an expression of interest to Alex Ashman (alexander.ashman@northernrailway.co.uk) along with a summary of the system capabilities (i.e Product fact sheet) and should the Project team assess that the functionality is comparable to the requirements we will share a list of times for the briefing calls to be selected followed by an invitation. Expressions of interest to be submitted by 2.00pm BST Friday 11/07/2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055b13
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092516-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

48300000 - Document creation, drawing, imaging, scheduling and productivity software package

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£22,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£22,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£4,729,595 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£4,729,595 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
1 Apr 20266 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Northern Trains Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO1 6JT
Postcode Area
York
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE21 York
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Micklegate
Westminster Constituency
York Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WORLDLINE IT SERVICES UK LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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